Countess Albiona

Countess Albiona
(circa "The Hour of the Dragon")

Medium Female Human
2nd Level
Aristocrat

Hit Dice: 2d6+3 (7 Hit Points)
Initiative: +1 (dex)
Speed: 30 ft
AC: 11 (Dex)
Attacks: Dagger melee
Damage: Dagger 1d4 melee
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/5ft
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +7
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 15
Skills: Bluff +7, Diplomacy +9, Gather Information +7, Listen +7, Spot +6, Ride +6
Feats: Iron Will, Skill Focus (Diplomacy)

Climate/Terrain: Aquilonia
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Lawful Good
Advancement: by Character class

Zenobia
Princess Akivasha
Publio
Tarascas
Thutothmes
Demetrio

Countess Albiona, whose golden hair falls in lustrous ripples about her white shoulders, is fiercely loyal to King Conan, even in the face of death. Young and vigorous, she refused to become Valerius' mistress when that scoundrel had usurped Conan's throne after Conan's supposed death.

She is terrified of magic and considers Conan's slightest word to be Law.

Howard wrote The Hour of the Dragon in four months at the behest of a British publishing house, in hopes he could finally become a full fledged novelist. Unfortunately, as described in the afterword, the publisher went under and Howard ended up selling the story to Weird Tales instead. The magazine published it in five issues, the last issue coming out only two months before Howard died. It was thus the last Conan story which he saw published.

Robert E. Howard's story, "The Hour of the Dragon," was first published in Weird Tales as a five part serial, beginning in December of 1935 and ending in April 1936. It is Robert E. Howard's only Conan full length novel. The story can also be found in the Ace/Lancer paperback "Conan the Conquerer"; and the Gnome Press collection "Conan the Conquerer". It is also available in the Burkley/Putnam edition, "The Hour of the Dragon". This is easily my second favorite Conan tale of all time (following "The People of the Black Circle")

Karl Edward Wagner called it "one of the best novels ever written in the epic fantasy genre" and I certainly agree.

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